The Majority Blocโ of the Honorable House of Representatives- HOR Joint Ways, Means, Finance and Development Planning- WMFDP and Public Accounts- PAC, commenced the expenditure hearing of the fiscal year 2025 draft budget.Itcan be recalled the draft 2025 budget was submitted at a little over $USD 851Million, an increase of $112,875,039 compared with FY2024 Approved Budget of $738,859,834.
According to a statement issued by the HOR Press Bureau, the commencement of such hearings of the draft budget which was submitted to the legislature consistentvwith the 1986 constitution, the rules and procedures of the House of Representatives and the Public Financial Law of 2009.
Speaking during the opening ceremonyon Monday, December 16, 2024, the WMFDP Chairman, Representative P. Mike Jury,said the expenditure hearing provides an opportunity for various line ministries and agencies to defend their respective budget expenditures and allocations, opened to the public as part of efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.
Chairman Jury said in order to expedite the Expenditure Hearing, the Ways, Means Finance and Development Planning(WMDP) Committee and the Public Account Committee (PAC) are working into sub-committees to conduct hearings simultaneously.
According to him, the expenditure hearing will be executed in a strategic way to save time and enhance the passage of the 2025 National Budget on or before Friday, 20th December2025.
He said the expenditure componentswill focus on Agriculture value chain programs. Roads and infrastructure,Education, Health, Basic Social Services, Salaries to improve public sector remuneration, And many other developmental priorities among other allocations.
The Maryland County District 1Representative assured the public of the joint renewed and robust oversight into the execution.
He emphasized that the committee will put in place further fiscal measures that will grant viewing and garnishing rights given the LRA; and will further conduct hearings on quarterly performance reports, among others.
Meanwhile, the first day sitting wasgraced by the Ministry of Finance, the Liberia Revenue Authority, the NationalIdentification Registry, the Civil Service Agency among others.
